Christophe Peschoux argues the UN panel ruling that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained is legally binding because of its basis in international human rights law. Peschoux, a senior official at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, criticises the ‘lack of diligence’ by Swedish authorities and the lengthy nature of the preliminary investigation. He says compensation, to be decided by the Swedish and British authorities, should be given to Assange.